Iron

The Redwyn Chronicles #1

by Madisyn Carlin

Enforcing justice comes with a price.

Detective Redwyn “Red” Deathan will stop at nothing to uncover those behind the ruthless kidnappings of multiple children. But things are not as they seem, and Red’s efforts are thwarted at every turn. With each discovery the danger grows, putting Red and the lives of those she cares about at risk. Can she reveal the mastermind’s identity before she herself becomes a target?

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian Fantasy, Retellings, Fairy Tale Retellings, Royalty

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2022

About the author

If you dislike "preachiness" and a lot of faith content, my books are not for you.

***

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales where faith and fantasy unite.

Editorial, graphic design, cover design, and website design services offered at Mountain Peak Edits & Design.

Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin

Reviews

[Madisyn Carlin]

The Redwyn Chronicles books are all on sale for $0.99! You can learn more here: madismusingsblog.wordpress.com/2023/1...
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What is IRON + Content Warning

IRON - A Christian Fantasy Cinderella Retelling

What IRON isn't.
1) A general market "clean" book.
2) A magical fairy tale retelling.
3) Light and fluffy.
4) YA (Young Adult).

What IRON is.
1) A Christian Fantasy.
2) Nonmagical.
3) Deep. Different from DECEIVED and not near as intense as SR, but still deep because it deals with human trafficking.
4) NA (New Adult).
5) A story with three (3) POVs in the organized, structural order I always follow.

CONTENT WARNING

IRON contains strong, overt faith elements including the staunch statements of a literal six day creation; the Beginning (God) being the only Way, Truth, and Life; and more. There is violence, but not nearly as concentrated as DECEIVED and, of course, nothing explicit or gratuitous. I am perfectly comfortable with my great-grandmother reading this book. This book is also a retelling more inspired by the original Cinderella; little inspiration came from the Disney version.

In Short
If you dislike Christian fantasy, fairytale retellings, overt faith elements, and clean (squeaky clean) romance, IRON is not the book for you.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars & 7/10 hearts. I never know what to expect when reading fantasy, but I’ve come to learn that with Madisyn Carlin, it means a good writing style, epic worldbuilding, wonderful messages, and spellbinding characters.

Carlin is a master at worldbuilding. I was so impressed with how much worked she poured into it yet how effortlessly it showed—history, legends, geography, culture, language, etc… it was superb. The characters were also excellent. I loved Red—who wouldn’t?—so spritely and broken and aiming so high. Chamonix was sweet and dutiful and I related very much to her (especially with her weak lungs… why don’t we see more of that in fiction?!). Carter was strong and brave and so human (poor sweet boy…) and Denton unexpectedly made me fall for his banter and seriousness. The King & Queen and various servants were all well done—interesting and real and kind (and the kids were adorable!); and the villains were terrifying… and were well fleshed out with good arcs. Finally, I totally fell for the Lycus and Ruid (and am I shipping Red + Lycus? sorta… not… sorta).

The plot, though. *deep breath* It was SO well done, okay?! I knew this was a Cinderella retelling and I was so happy by the twists and how well the story was retold. But I also loved how deep the plot was and how it extended BEYOND Cinderella. Human trafficking is a very heavy topic, but Carlin handled it very well and did a great job mixing it with humour and sweetness to keep it from becoming too much. I can’t say much about the plot without spoilers but it was excellent. The message too was marvellous—trusting God & relinquishing control, but in three separate ways, which each of the MCs learned in their own way. It was so encouraging and powerful. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Content: quite a bit of violence, but not gratuitous or graphic; slight mentions that a girl caught in human trafficking could be assaulted; slight nondetailed touching between a male & female. Two of the secondary characters are called wolf men, but they are not werewolves, only men who work with wolves.

A Favourite Quote: A sinking sensation similar to homesickness hollowed her heart and gut. She needed Carter’s support and steadying presence and Chamonix’s clear mind. She couldn’t do this on her own. She and Denton couldn’t do it on their own.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
A whisper of hope threaded its way through the worry and fear clouding her mind. She may walk without anyone beside her, may follow Denton into what most would deem a death trap, but she was not alone.
The Maker of all, the Designer, the Creator, the Beginning was with her. He would not let her go, no matter the extent to which His plan differed from hers….
You never leave my side.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I’ll get the kidnapper. You get the kid.”
“Why?” Not that Carter was arguing. Personally, he much rather rescue a child trapped in blankets than fight a lunatic.
“Because you’re better with horses than I am. You’ll be able to calm Kline and ride double with the kid.”
Carter never had liked Kline. The sullen beast was a nightmare whose personality rivaled [the villains]. He only hoped the horse didn’t cater to the idea of biting Carter. Again. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Kristina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Characters: The characters were one of my favorite parts of this novel. They all had such different personalities, and they all had human strengths and weaknesses. Red's was my favorite out of the three perspectives. I loved Red's bravery and dedication to her friends, Carter's determination to protect Chamonix, and Chamonix's strong faith.

Language: Clean.

Moral/theme: The goodness of God, trusting Him, and not trying to control everything were some themes Iron featured. I loved how strong the faith content was. We need more Christian fiction like this.

Plot: Plenty of action scenes, high stakes, and suspenseful moments kept me reading right along.

Romance: Clean.

Writing: Madisyn Carlin's clear, descriptive writing worked so well for this book. I can't wait to read more by her in the future.

Overall: Iron was an exciting read that I'd recommend to those who love Christian fiction, fairy-tale retellings, and non-magical fantasy. I need the rest of the series now!

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was AMAZING! Wow! Okay, this was so cool! Like...a Cinderella retelling that was unquie and not just the same story written by a different person! The detective twist with Red as a third outside character...*chef's kiss* this is an epic book!

Characters:
Red was great! She was so sarcastic and just...iloved that side of her! Her stubbornness got on my nerves occasionally, but she mellowed a little towards the end and overall I can't complain because she was really a great character!
Char was sooooo sweet and just I loved her! She wasn't perfect had her doubts and flaws but she was the sweetest thing!
Carter! I loved him! Hands down my favorite character! I just he was quiet and patient but strong and had a quiet courage about him that Red failed to notice...she's all go getter and he's just more cautious.
Denton was great as a side character I really enjoyed him!
So there are quiet a few other characters...Carter's step dad and brother and the king and queen and others who were all nicely rounded and just great charries!
I also loved that Gus, Ella, and Cinders were horses but you know echoed back to those Cinderella vibes!

Themes:
Wow! Theme wise this was so good! It dealt with human trafficking, trust, courage, but trusting God with all areas of our life and acknowledging that He is in control was a big part of the story. Also the fact that God never leaves us, no matter how much bad has happened He is there with us.

Romance:
Very clean...just a forehead kiss but I honestly didn't miss it. It was very nice and just super good!

Language:
Mentions of cursing but none on page.

Magic:
N/A

Overall:
I enjoyed reading this book so much and can't wait to read Madisyn's next book! She does not disappoint! The story was intriguing and action packed and just awesome! Highly recommend for ages 12+ this is an awesome book!

[Issabelle Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I have a lot of thoughts right now so I need to sort through them first and then full review to come!

[Vanessa Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madisyn Carlin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her debut novel, Deceived was so well done, but I think I enjoyed Iron even more. This is truly a gripping, deep, and beautiful story!

Characters: Each character was extremely well-developed even with three POVs, which can be difficult to juggle in some cases. Wild and fierce Redwyn, gentle and brave Chamonix, and noble and hurting Carter. I loved them all. Red was hilarious, but watching her go through trials and not keep up the iron facade of courage and steadiness was done so well. And Chamonix ... such a sweetheart! She was so difficult from Red, but it was such a beautiful reminder that people are created differently for a reason. Both girls were brave and strong, but in different ways - and that's the way it should be. And dear Carter ... that poor guy. He had such a rough time through it all. And I absolutely loved that he wasn't the guy who could fight off a million badguys at once and come through without breaking a sweat. He was just a normal guy. And can we please talk about Denton? I have a thing for side characters, and this guy totally got the brunt of my love for side characters. I wasn't completely happy with some of his actions, but I'm thinking that might come into play later, maybe. But I loved him. And the rest of the characters were just wonderful and added to the plot. (And the wolf guys! They were cool with their wolves and everything. And to be clear, they were just guys that had wolves, not actual wolf and man creatures.)

Setting/Plot/Writing Style: The setting was so lovely - yes, it was fantasy, but it didn't have magic or feel too overdone and confusing. The worldbuilding was also excellent! Overall, the plot was really interesting and engaging - so much action! The climax was especially suspenseful. And throughout the entire book, the writing was clear yet beautiful. It fit the story perfectly.

Theme: Several hard themes were tackled throughout this book, especially since it dealt with human trafficking. However, the author presented all the situations very sensitively, and nothing ever felt inappropriate or too detailed. Red's and Carter's struggles were especially key throughout the book: Carter's doubts and and especially Red's fear of surrender were so relatable. I always need that reminder that God truly is in control! These themes were interwoven through the story, and they were just beautiful.

Overall, I loved this book and am so looking forward to the next in the series! If you're looking for a quality Christian fantasy book (especially without magic), look no further.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Saraina Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished reading IRON (yesterday at the time of this review), I just wanted to reread it ALL OVER AGAIN. What an absolutely captivating, amazing story this was!!! I can't wait to ramble on to my heart's content about it, so let's dive right in, starting with one of my favorite parts of IRON, the characters!

CHARACTERS

I LOVE how Red is so fierce, blunt, assertive, and bold (truly a spitfire young detective!), but she's also vulnerable and emotional, really a little girl at heart who longs to be unconditionally loved. I think everyone can find themselves relating to how she never feels enough, how she feels like a stain, like she'll never fit in, never be good enough. Poor darling Red. hugs her Her spiritual arc was soooo good!!! Not only was it beautiful for the truths Red learned, but on the more technical side, it flowed naturally and didn't feel forced at all.

Chamonix is so sweet and elegant, more ladylike than Red but with a certain stubborn, determined mettle of her own. I related with her a lot. And her poor lungs! I don't often see character health problems like that in books, so it was interesting to see, and unique. It provided an unique aspect to the conflict involving her. Dear Char… she just wants to help. She's so brave, in a gentle way. Oh, and not to mention, her name is lovely! (So is Redwyn!)

And I've got to say, Red and Char's interactions are gold. They're not afraid to be blunt with each other, in their own ways, Char sometimes catching onto Red's sarcasm. And I laughed so hard at the reminiscing of the hilarious baby skunk escapade. As Carter says, "I could never aspire to such levels of sass and sarcasm. That area is Red's expertise. Not mine." No, but he's blunt and adorable for it.

And speaking of Carter... I absolutely LOVE him! He is SO sweet!!! And Red was right when speaking teasingly to Char about him: he IS cute, no question about it. The perfect friend for Red! Like I was saying, he's rather adorably blunt, yet in spite of his propensity for saying what he thinks, he's not the type to stand up for himself at the cost of hurting others. He's cautious, quiet. Char's so right - he wasn't sent to rescue, but to protect. That just melted me because it's so true. There was a gentle strength to him that drew me in, and he never came across as wimpy, despite Red considering him a coward for not giving as good as he got from the evil Draymond and Antony. His problem of trust was heartbreaking, how he thinks no one is worthy of trust, not even the Beginning. That made his spiritual arc so satisfying, so impactful!

Some other characters I grew to love were Uncle Calvin and Aunt Isadora - such good parent figures! <3 And Denton... even though I felt like I had to dislike him initially... I finally let myself like him. A lot. *grins* (And I briefly considered shipping him with *coughs* someone but nah, I don't know if she would take so kindly to that. *winks* But who knows? *laughs to myself*) And Halda! The dear lady was so wise and imparted so much sage advice. Red needed her! And the character-I-shall-not-name-because-of-spoilers really sneaked his way into my heart. Redemption arcs always get me.

The wolfmen confused me at first as to whether they were actually wolves or men or a combination of both, but eventually I realized they were just men. (The fault is most likely on my end for that; I was reading quickly and probably failed to pay attention to that part.) But, like Halda said, they really are nice young men. :D

Wow, this character section is long, but bear with me, as it's always my favorite part of reviews! :D I just have to mention the villains. GUYS. These villains were no joke. Draymond and Antony and the whole lot of them. Oh my goodness, I hate them. And I have to say, I "liked" how the bad guys weren't brainless and easily defeated. They were truly scary because they knew what they were doing, and they did pure, straight-up evil.

ROMANCE

"Romantic love, she was finding out, was more than the giddiness and swooning. It was deep, abiding. Steadfast and loyal." YES! And Carlin perfectly showed that through the love story in IRON! The romance was so sweet, pure, tender. I love how its foundation is built merely on good solid conversation, on getting to know each other, and just showing they care. And THE MEET CUTE! I laughed each time they... bumped into each other. I ship them so hard. I'll admit, I'm usually disappointed if there's not an "actual" kiss at least at the very end, but this was a rare case where the cheek/forehead kisses were perfectly enough to satisfy. And I mean that! The romance wasn't the focus of the story, but it was definitely one of my favorite aspects about it.

And those who haven't read this won't get this yet, but I could NOT STOP LAUGHING at *that* part when Carter thinks he'll die at the hands of King Calvin. Priceless.

WRITING STYLE

*chef's kiss* The writing style fit IRON so beautifully! Lovely choice of words, vivid, striking a good balance between flowery and simple. It's not necessarily an easy read with very simple writing I could breeze through with distractions going on around me - I had to concentrate, but that's not a bad thing. Plus, it's so easy to get yourself swept away in the story. The style felt elegant and sophisticated in a way that I think added to the world of the characters (because that's how most of them talked). I loved it. And Madi nailed each person's character voice. She has a subtle, sophisticated sarcasm that makes me crack up, with hilarious exaggerations! :D

WORLDBUILDING

I thought the worldbuilding was so well done; how each city/town/country has a distinct feature and reputation. And how Madisyn created unique phrases drawing from the culture she'd formed, too - that added such a level of realism to it! And the unique geography made the setting come alive for me!

PLOT

The Cinderella retelling really came apparent in the middle half of the book, which I actually loved. Because of the brilliant twist on the original tale, it came across as rather subtle, but I believe most readers will quickly see the fairytale retelling aspect of it. The reason I didn't quickly pick up on how the story related to the original Cinderella tale was because Carter, not a girl, acted as the Cinderella of the story. Apparently my brain was slow to put two and two together. *smh*

BUT THOSE CRAZY PLOT TWISTS. I CAN'T EVEN. Seriously, I was shocked many a time at the turn of events that took place. The climax practically kept my eyes glued to the screen as I read. It was SOOOO suspenseful and fast-paced and just ahhh!!! Incredible. Such a rollercoaster ride!!!

THEMES

Such beautiful spiritual content, full of solid Biblical truths! I was encouraged, uplifted, strengthened, inspired - especially through how the characters eventually come to terms with their fears and struggles. I don't know if it's necessarily called an allegory, but the Beginning, the Scripts - that whole spiritual aspect was really well done.

The human trafficking content in this was handled very well. Honestly, it felt darker than it would have had there not been things like that going on in the world today. Something about it felt so real, so dark, so scary. And it needed to be that way! But anyway, that made the theme of how God allows evil to happen, but still holds us the whole way through those trials, so impactful. The author did a marvelous job.

OVERALL

I teared up, I got chills, I wheezed in laughter… this book has it all. I greatly look forward to reading more from Madisyn Carlin, along with daydreaming about the characters and concocting Red-worthy things to say. :D Go do yourself a favor and read it!

FAVORITE QUOTES

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"No royal decree will ever stop evil."
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"Your fire is returning," Halda said softly.

Heat crawled up Red's cheeks. "I apologize for making a scene."

"Never apologize for crying, dear child. We are given tears for a reason. I merely mean it is good having you back to your normal self."

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"The Beginning allows us to walk through the fire, but He is forever holding our hand through that fire."

_

"Red, honey, you've been trying to walk through the fire using your own strength. We're not meant to do that. You will fall and fail every time. The Beginning…He will never let you go. When you reach the bottom, He's still there. Even when everything feels hopeless, take courage hope will always prevail because He is in control."

_

Protection was preferable to obeying etiquette, and though Carter was chained and battered, he possessed a protector's spirit. He'd do everything he could to safeguard them.

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"There are many types of bravery and courage. Some are bolder, like Redwyn, and other are more subtle, like yourself. Neither type is more important and both are equally vital. One type rallies troops. The other touches individual hearts."

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Romantic love, she was finding out, was more than the giddiness and swooning. It was deep, abiding. Steadfast and loyal.



Disclosure: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[K.R. Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man oh man, I can't believe Madisyn Carlin is ALREADY releasing another book. Okay, in reality it felt like a century before I could get this thing to read, but I didn't grow a head if white hairs and get wrinkles like I thought I might waiting for it.

Where do I start?????
The Characters: Good gracious me, they're like...perfect for each other! Their ARCs were crafted amazingly.
Red (Redwyn) is a prime example of a girl who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her sense of responsibility as a detective and a cousin to the princess really adds a lot of oomph to her. And this all builds up to the end when-spoiler. Aghhhh, those terrible spoilers! I can't say anything I want to!
Carter, the one male main character just reaches out and nabs your heart like no one else (besides Holder in DECEIVED cause he's my favoritist ever.;)). In this Cinderella retelling, he is, in affect, Cinderella. Sorry buddy, there's no other way to put it. He is so abused and uncared for, then when the really really bad spoiler happens, he finds what he's truly been longing for, both the answers to his burning questions about how God would let all those terrible things happen to him and others and someone to love him no matter what happens. (I mean, Red does cause she's basically like his sister, but that's sisterly love there and doesn't count. ;))
Char (Charmonix). I have officially dubbed her 'Char' as in the burnt building, charred and smouldering. No 'Shar's in my vocabulary, thank you. Char also must carry the weight of her kingdom on her shoulders while being forced into a marriage she has no desire to enter. She gets to pick her guy, but the poor thing doesn't know anybody. She's just not a girl who hangs out with guys. So imagine what happens when a handsome stranger shows up at the masquerade ball and gives her a dash of fresh air with his respect and disapproval for "the princess being vied for like a horse or cow". Those weren't the exact words, but pretty close. And THEN when the massive spoiler happens....*screams* She gets to meet her true love!
Denton: Yes, I just had to add him in here. He's Carter's step brother, and, while it may seem he's callous and a bit uncaring at first, he definitely won my heart by the end of the book. And what happened at the wedding. XD XD XD. That's got to be one of the funniest parts to imagine.
And the horses, yes there is lots of mentions of them in there. Each one has its own personality and I've never seen this in any book I've ever read. Its amazing!

I love how Madisyn has been able to steer the Cinderella retelling away from love at first sight and instead use common reasoning and a plot that brings her characters together in faith and love. Plus there's action, mystery, humor, and EVERYTHING in there. The romance is well done, not the center of the book, but definitely in there. (Someone give me a stick to beat Draymond and Anthony over the head with, please. They is intolerable and wholly evil. :C)

IRON deals with human trafficking and can be blunt at times, but there's no use of skirting around the subject. I would let my little sisters read this book (From ages eleven to fifteen), because, though it is New Adult rated, it doesn't have anything dirty or too gory, plus its message is amazing.

So I'm giving this work of art five stars. You can't find many books like this out there. I'm happy to say I completely trust Madisyn Carlin to write wholesome books with nothing graphically nauseating. And I can also trust that when she tackles and issue (which she does in every manuscript) she isn't going to skip around the topic. She's courageous enough to spit it out and say what it truly is. This I appreciate immensely.

I would encourage anyone looking for a Christian magic-less fantasy to look into IRON. It doesn't have that horrid (but amazing) cliff hanger like DECEIVED, but its ending leaves you wanting more. IRON is not a light, fluffy book, but its not overwhelming either.

And stay tuned for more released from Madisyn Carlin coming up!!!!!!!! And feel free to tell her to get moving on them since she refuses to take a vacation.

(I beta read this book for the author and have left an honest review in my wake of glaring at the antagonists and mooning over the protagonists)

[Angie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*cautiously pokes head out of latest reading slump*
*waits for it to hit me over the head again*

Seriously, though, I have never experienced reading slumps as long or severe as in the past couple of years. No guarantee that I'm legitimately back, but...this book was absolutely the right call to give me a chance of breaking out of this last one.

The fairytale. *insert standard disclaimer about me loving non-magical fairytale retellings even though I've never read the originals, etc., etc., etc.* Somehow this book was a perfect mix of just enough Cinderella to draw me in, just enough twists on the original story to really intrigue me (the gender-flips--yassss!!!), and so much original story that I was in total suspense as to what on earth was happening and how it was all going to work out. Which also led to being totally hooked by the question of how some of the fairytale elements were going to possibly play out in the midst of everything else, especially with certain stubborn characters involved. Which leads me to...

The characters. Confession...I was mostly drawn to the book because I've read enough of the author's snippets to know, even out of context, that her characters have deliciously off-the-charts levels of sass and snark. And I was not disappointed! Red was a gem. Chamonix was forced to keep most of her sassier opinions inside her head, but I loved her for it. I fell for Denton just as much as I had been told I ought to, even if first appearances went against him. But somehow I think I fell hardest for Carter. He wasn't perfect by any means. He wasn't even close. But he was just--real. Raw. Hurting. Caring, even when he didn't really want to. Trying to shoulder the load he'd been given without asking for help or sympathy, even when it was unfair. I don't know--I just loved him from about the second Red walked into the forge.

The plot/mystery. Okay, so I'll admit to having a little trouble tracking with it at certain parts. Why a certain thing mattered, or why it took so long to finally follow up on something else, or why the bad guys made certain choices. (Also, I'm not the biggest mystery reader, so take from that what you will.) But the stakes were just about through the roof, and with every kidnapping, I wanted so badly for this to be the time they would finally get a clue! I'm still not completely sure I made all the right connections, but it didn't matter that much because I just wanted things to work out so badly!

The romance. Does it still count as romance? Because, I mean, it's Cinderella, so there's got to be something, but I was really impressed, especially for a Cinderella story, at just how superficial it wasn't. Sure, there was some intrigue around the mysterious stranger, but that was never treated like enough of a foundation to build anything solid on, and the basis for what feelings did develop came out of a completely different circumstance. Anyway, as someone who doesn't necessarily mind a traditional romance, I was really impressed with the way this was handled. And also the way that eventually growing feelings didn't devolve into senseless mush when there were more pressing concerns in the moment. (: Nuff said about that...

I feel like I'm probably missing stuff, but I'd rather get a halfway decent review up than not get one up at all. *looks guiltily at my awful review backlog* Suffice it to say, I enjoyed this book immensely and am looking forward to the rest of the series, as well as the author's other work. I hope to read more in the near future, if the dreaded slump doesn't pull me back. ;)

4.5 stars

Content--numerous mentions of kidnapping and human trafficking; mentions of violence, including abuse; battles, swordfights, etc.; mentions of wounds, blood, and deaths (not graphic)

[M.L. Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was this my first book of Carlin's that I've had the pleasure of reading?

Yes.

Will it be the last?

*slams desk* ABSOLUTELY NOT.

First off, thank you for not making the cover of a "Cinderella retelling" blue. 🤣 I don't know why, but I love that touch.

Second, THANK YOU for this book. Seriously. After this, I'm going to make a bookshelf entitled "Revolution Rising" and on it shall be books that have the power and the message that people today need to be hearing. Madysin, IRON fits right into its own slot on the bookshelf. Cause you rocked this story, girl.

Oh, and thirdly, thank you for creating strong female characters that aren't feministic and bashing. I'm getting pretty sick and tired of seeing that theme being spread around, and IRON was like a breath of fresh air. No, make that a gust. A gale. A full-blown storm. You get the picture.

*Adds every single book in this series to my MUST BUY IMMEDIATELY list*

[Courtney Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my full review: https://penspagesandpulses.wordpress....

Madisyn Carlin's IRON is a Cinderella retelling unlike any you've ever read. It discusses hard topics, introduces INCREDIBLE CHARACTERS, and will make you laugh.

Redwyn and Charmonix couldn't be more different from each other. Redwyn is bold, outspoken, and rushes headlong into everything. Charmonix is quiet, reserved, and diplomatic. The dynamic between Redwyn and Charmonix reminded me a lot of Laura and Mary Ingalls from The Little House on the Prairie series.

Carter is the Cinderella figure in this retelling. HE IS SO SWEET!!! He is so fiercely protective of Charmonix. He is willing to sacrifice everything for Charmonix and the little kids.

Denton, one of Redwyn's friends, serves as the perfect counterbalance to her headlong nature. I love seeing how he supports Redwyn through all of the hard times she experiences in this book.

Ward is a minor character, but he is one of my FAVORITE characters!!! He has a wonderful character arc. I love how we see him choose to follow his conscience. AND WE'D BETTER SEE HIM AGAIN!!!!!!!

Madi is the absolute BEST at writing sister relationships. I know, I've said it before, but it's almost a little creepy. Like in Shattered Reflection and Shattered Reaction, there were several times I thought, "I've had this EXACT SAME conversation with my sister." Madi claims it's just because she has a sister herself, but I'm still checking my house for listening devices. Just in case. XD

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, IRON made me laugh. A lot. After I finished a test and was waiting for other students to finish their tests, I was reading this book. I was having a very hard time trying not to be too disruptive to the other students. I'm not sure if I was very successful, though.......

One trend I've found disturbing in the past few years is the blurring of lines of good and evil in fiction. Villains are shown as sympathetic. The motives of heroes are questioned. Grey characters have become more and more popular. While some of these stories are interesting, I prefer stories with classic good vs. evil themes. Madi's IRON is a great example of good vs. evil.

Madi's IRON was SUCH a great book!!! If you read it, you will laugh. You will fall in love with the characters. You will want to become a better person.

I received a pre-publication proof copy from the author. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

[Elisabeth Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family was watching Star Wars for the first time. I was there, too, but paying far more attention to the fact that a certain character was trapped in a certain shed, with certain something very bad happening.
So while Luke Skywalker was freezing in some hostile, snow-covered planet, my mind was someplace far warmer. So warm, in fact, it could kill.

I've read a few of Jaye L. Knight's books, and while they were enjoyable, I wouldn't pre-order the next one. Because I normally don't even buy books, much less pre-order them... Yet I did, for Carlin's next novels.

IRON has, no doubt, earned its place in my top favorites. And trust me, that is a hard-won position.

[Jacquelyn &#x1f490; {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t love this book and I didn’t hate it either. There were a lot of characters and I was confused or bored for a lot of the beginning. It starts out slow and took me a bit to catch on to the Cinderella retelling. It felt more like a Little Red Riding Hood one. Red was a stubborn and hard headed jerk! I honestly didn’t like her very much. She totally deserved to give Carter a huge apology which she didn’t. Carter had been through so much in his life and my heart broke for him. I was frustrated that he continued to allow his stepfather and stepbrother to treat him that way. Char was a lovely character and I enjoyed her. I enjoyed the faith content although it was weird that God was called the Beginning instead of simply God. It kinda distracted me every time I read it. I did really appreciate the faith content! I wish more books had that in them! There were a couple typos, but they didn’t really distract me too much from the story. I’m not sure if I’m going to continue the series if it mainly focuses on Red. I was a little nervous and sad about making this review because I really wanted to like it. I know lots of other people really enjoy it. But I always want to be honest in my reviews. 😊

[Moriyah Cordova · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It was more than naïve foolishness. This faith went deeper, like the roots to an unmovable tree. The type of faith that provided surly, confidence. The type of faith that allowed Char to look evil in the face and still know she was held in the Creator’s hands.”
— Madisyn Carlin, Iron

Rating: ★★★★★
Cleanness: ★★★*

I. Love. This. BOOK! Madisyn writes such good books! If you were here for CROWN’s release last month then you know how much I love Madisyn’s writing! The faith content was amazing and so present in this story and THE BANTER & COMEDY!!! *chefs kiss* There were so many times I was laughing out loud because there is such incredible comedy and banter in this story (next time I annotate a Carlin book, I’ll need a tab for comedy and banter alone)! I don’t laugh aloud when reading books, it just doesn’t happen, but Madisyn has cracked the code and I love it!



Writing:

I love Madisyn’s writing style. She writes in a way that is easy to follow and get sucked into the story (there were a few nights that I read past my bedtime which if you know me then you know how much of a planner I am and how much I follow a sleep plan so…you know this was a good book)! I was so invested in these characters and when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the story and where it could be going! I love how Madisyn used the fairytale of Cinderella and stayed true to it while also not being predictable. There were so many things I couldn’t have guessed with the story and plot twists that I never would have thought of, which I loved. I think this is my favorite of the reverse reimagining (the guy is the Cinderella character with the princess the Prince Charming character) Cinderella stories I have ever read so that says a lot to me!

I also loved how Red’s detective work played out and how it felt realistic even with how long the cases went and how long it actually would take to track down villains and everything. Sometimes in books it can feel very fast and rushed and unrealistic but that was not at all the case with IRON! I also liked how when a character got injured and it was serious that it actually hurt and had to be taken care of and the wounds weren’t forgotten like I’ve seen done in a lot of books.

I love how much faith was a part of this story! I will say that Chamonix is incredible and her faith was so refreshing and wonderful! Something I liked in this story was seeing the characters struggling and dealing with questions about God (some that I’ve struggled with in the past myself) and seeing how that affected them. I really loved how it was handled and written! For the faith aspects in this book alone I would recommend it, but I even more recommend it because of the characters (I LOVE the characters)!

I already talked about the incredible banter in the beginning so let's talk about the characters!!! *squealing* My favorite part!


Characters:

Redwyn! As this book begins with Red, she is the first character I’ll talk about! Red is such a relatable character. I loved how she was a strong female character but she still felt emotions and she struggled and she had insecurities and she felt so human. If there is one thing Madisyn is good at in writing (besides exceptional banter and faith content) it's the humanity and realness of her characters.
Red struggled a lot with control and doing things in her own power and in her own strength because she believed that she was the most capable (I very much related to her in this and in learning to trust others and to trust in God’s plan and knowing He has it all under control)! I loved her—and how snarky and sarcastic she was but then so lovable. I also love how she and Char are like sisters together and everything with the matchmaking and sibling love and banter was just so sweet! I also loved how Red was basically the fairy godmother character (that made me so happy)!

Chamonix! I love Char to pieces! She is so sweet and strong and full of faith! She is such an inspiring character and a role model! I also liked that even though she had breathing problems, she wasn’t going to let that define her and that it wasn’t forgotten. Sometimes I’ve read in books how a main character has some kind of illness or physical problem but then it’s forgotten halfway through the book but that wasn’t the case with Char. I loved how her strong faith helped both Red and Carter’s walk with the Beginning (God). Her faith was so inspiring!

CARTER!!! Ahh, I love Carter! He is so sweet and protective! He is just amazing! I love how selfless he is and how much he cared for Char and Red and all the kidnapped children. He was a strong noble protector and I loved how Char believed in him and made him want to be a better man. Carter of all the characters struggled with the Beginning (God) the most. He struggled with trust and loss and all these misbeliefs and I think it was really well written. I loved his coming back to the Beginning (God) and watching him trust in Him again and give up control and being the protector. My heart melted. I also loved that his and Red’s relationship was purely platonic! I feel like we need more strong friendships in books!

Carter and Char together are so precious! They are one of my favorite book couples now! I just loved all their moments together and how much they loved and trusted each other and how their relationship was built on friendship! It's so good and had me squealing!

Side Note: I also love that in the back of the book there is an “Author’s Note” where Madisyn talked about how she does not believe in “insta-love” which I also don’t believe in. I loved seeing how she wrote about the characters building a relationship and friendship before they ever said “I love you”! *clapping* I love that (it is also why, friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope! *whispers* it feels realistic and healthy))! Now I wanna write a whole blog post on this topic of insta-love (why it doesn’t work and how to make it work). Back to the review!

I loved seeing Calvin and Isadora from CROWN again!!! The tea moment made me laugh so much! I loved having them back and seeing what good parents they are and how they essentially adopted Red. *heart eyes*

I LOVED the redemption arcs in this story!!! I didn’t know what to think of Denton at the start of the book but now I love his character and the fact that he is good and he and Carter are now building a relationship as real brothers! I love it! I’m SO excited to start reading KEY, aka Denton’s story! I’m so excited!

The wolfmen were awesome! They are SO cool! They had literal wolves (which is my favorite animal)! Ahh! They are just so cool! I don't know how else to describe them.
I really really hope they show up in Red’s next book! I also agree with one reviewer who said that they shipped Red and Lycus together—I do the same! I feel like because Red hated them so much in the beginning but then learned to trust and respect them (mostly, I think she said they were tolerable by the end of the book) that there is a whole story to be explored (even if they don’t end up together, I still want to know what happens to them because we don’t know what happens to the wolfmen after IRON ends and I just really want to know)!

I also really liked how much horses took a part of the story and how their names were nods to the Cinderella story!!! Gus, Cinders, and Ella all made me so happy!

So all in all, I loved this book and am very much looking forward to reading KEY and the next book in the series (*whispers* it’s a really cool name) and all the others to come in this series!


Some Favorite Quotes (I have so many favorite quotes in this book! You can tell I’ve been annotating because of the sheer amount of quotes I underlined and highlighted. XD This isn’t even half of the quotes I underlined but they are some of my favorites (that don’t involve major spoilers)):

“Peace. He gives us peace.”

“Introducing Princess Chamonix of Veerham and weak lungs.”

“Red had speculated they were allergic to emotions.”

“Trust Me.”
A dangerous request. Trusting Red usually resulted in a near-death experience.

“You have that expression again.”
“What expression?”
“The one indicating you’re plotting someone’s demise.”
Red huffed. “Plotting is different from actually carrying out the plan.”

“The Master Artist saw the entire canvas, whereas Chamonix saw only a smudge of paint. The Beginning knew what would happen, and when, how, and why.”

“Life was precious, valuable, and not something to cast aside.”

“Despite what we think and feel, He is in control.”

“Never apologize for crying, dear child. We are given tears for a reason.”

“You have an iron will, Redwyn. It's not in your nature to accept defeat. Use that stubbornness and persevere.”

“I have a wonderful disposition.”
“For a cactus.”

“…he possessed a protector’s spirit. He’d do everything he could to safeguard them.”

“She made him want to be a hero.”

“She possessed a gentle soul, a healer’s heart, and a strong faith.”

“I don’t know who told you you weren’t a hero, but they were wrong.”

“The wolfmen were lunatics.”

“Why was she so touchy? Exhaustion, perhaps? She wasn't hungry, so that couldn’t be the cause.” [I cannot tell you how accurate this is of me XD]

Something cunning gleamed in Lycus’ eyes. “You underestimate my wolves.”

“…you are worth much, much more than you can fathom.”

“I think you are here to protect us.”
“I’m not a protector.”
“You are. You just don’t recognize it in yourself.”

“She wanted to control the situation, but in truth, she’d never been in control to begin with.”

“And then…” and then she grew to love him.

“Romantic love, she was finding out, was more than the giddiness and swooning. It was deep and abiding. Steadfast and loyal.

“Now, please go before you pass your sickness to me.”
“What sickness?”
“The crying sickness.”

“What would she do with all the stubborn men in her life? At the moment, beating them over the head with a crunch sounded most pleasant.”

*Cleanness: this is a really clean book!
Romance is completely clean (there wasn’t even a kiss which…I’m both okay with and then wish there was a kiss, XD). The language was also clean.
The only things to look out for is violence, fight scenes, injuries, blood, many beatings, torture, abuse, kidnappings, child & human trafficking, murder, and loss.
Otherwise, this is a clean book and I highly recommend reading!


…
The full book review with graphics and photos: https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com/2023...

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To read more bookish content make sure to check my blog https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com & my instagram @fablerosemc !!


PINTEREST BOARD:
Of course I had to make a Pinterest board for this wonderful book! So without further ado, the Pinterest board link! Have fun!
https://www.pinterest.com/fablerosemc...

[Anna |This Curly Girl Reads| · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️ Mom+Daughter 📚 Read/Review!
Fantasy isn’t my regular genre, but this one intrigued me, and I felt from reviews of the content (there are some really great ones on here—and I appreciated the author herself sharing that!!) that this would be a fun read to share with my middle school daughter.

She and I both liked it as a whole. The beginning was a little slow in my opinion, but It was a lot of developing a new world and characters! About half way, it picked up and I didn’t want to put it down 😊

Unpopular opinion and my Main reason for torn star rating: Red was not my favorite character. She’s very stubborn, and I did like how she was dealing in her heart with God over that weakness. I just had a problem with her treatment of Carter, Denton, and the Wolfmen. This judgmental/prejudice would have been excusable had she repented at some point—like, what about an apology at least to Carter? Also, she was totally fine with rebellion toward her authority in life, but she was always angry and called people “cowards” when they didn’t live up to her expectations. That is wrong and selfish. I just would have loved to see some repentance in that regard…The Denton situation was kind of understandable, but again at the end…no spoilers, just it bugged me. My daughter also voiced how she thought Red to be “mean.” I didn’t like that example, but it opened the door for some good conversation!

I loved Chamonix and Carter as characters! The romance was not the focus (again another reason I was ok with my daughter reading it). The children were so sweet. The lesson in trusting God when things don’t go as we expect/desire was good.

I will definitely read the other books in this series! I loved Denton, and I was so glad he is not a bad guy and gets his own story.

**Note: i found the heavier content in this book to be handled discreetly. There is no magic. There is human trafficking, which is presented as sad/evil/despicable/etc., but it’s handled carefully. There is one mention of a brothel in passing without explanation of what that is or sensual/lustful innuendo, which parents would want to be aware of! I didn’t know that would be in there, but it went over my daughters head (prob because it was in passing) so was not an issue (BUT the author also lists this as a new adult NOT youth fiction).

[Deigan Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How come I can sob over a book, express my feelings so eloquently to my sister, and fangirl to kingdom come, and not think of a single word to say in a review box?

I guess there's one answer: There is truly nothing to say. Nothing that could capture the extent of beauty and love and goodness that is IRON.

The only other book I've read by Madisyn Carlin is Shattered Reflections, but this book knocked it out of the park.

Y'all, we NEED more books like this in today's world. Books that tackle hard topics and don't shy away from the truth. Books that shine brightly in a world that is so, so dark.

I literally cannot even begin to tell you how much this book impacted me. I just . . . can't. I don't think I ever could. That's how profound this book is.

*sniffles*

Figures. Me, the writer, and I can't think of a single thing to say. Expect . . . well done. What a beautiful, beautiful story. Thank you for writing it.

<3

Oh, yes, and one more thing: Carter and Denton are mine. 😎

Now I'm done. 😉

[Anna Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review: 5 out of 5 Stars
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

First of all, I just need to say this: I loved this book. I loved, loved, loved this book. I just finished reading it, and I'm still trying to recover from it. (And, yes, I may or may not have read Key BEFORE Iron- so I read them out of order- but c'est la vie)

Characters: Redwyn (Red) has officially won my heart as my favorite character in The Redwyn Chronicles. I love her spunkiness, her fieriness and sarcasm, and, most, importantly, her heart. Her struggles were relatable, and it wasn't hard to root for her every step of the way. I also loved Chamonix's sweetness and Carter's courage. I love the MC's so much. The villains were miserable annoyances, but they were so well-written!

Plot/Themes: Carlin always has such creative and heart-pounding plots, and Iron was no exception. I loved that it was a Cinderella retelling. I have always been a huge fairy tale and adventure story fan, and I was so excited to see someone had written a Christian retelling of this particular fairy tale! And I loved the themes. Red, Chamonix, Carter, and Denton went through a bunch of chaos, that's for sure. They had their "moments", their doubts, and confusion, but seeing their faith and reliance on God to get them through the terrible situations (especially Red's- even when she had her doubts, she remembered who she was and why God had her where she was- I love that girl) was so encouraging.

Violence: Clean. There are plenty of swordfights and injuries, but nothing gratuitous or unnecessary that makes you squirm.

Romance: Squeaky clean. I usually have trouble finding clean romance that isn't all swoony, lovey-dovey, and five hundred kisses when you're halfway through the book (ugh) but Carlin does an amazing job portraying romance as Godly and clean.

Overall: I loved this book. There are hardly enough words to explain how much I loved it. Iron was such an epic, Christian fairy-tale retelling that I want to read it all over again. Another job well done, Miss Carlin!

[Nikita Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous story!! Review to come! 🥰

[Barbara Keigher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it...
And....I am unhappy #2 is not available right now! sigh!

I loved the spiritual content, the scriptures and application of them.
I also even appreciated the spiritual doubts, and the resolution of them.

I had somewhat of a hard time with the evil, violence and hurting people physically.
On the other hand, it happens in real life,
and how do we deal with it?
How does God want us to deal with it?
How did Jesus deal with it?
What can it purpose be...
even if..... God delays 'saving' us from it, for a very long time
or
maybe we die as a result ( and He calls us home instead)?

Is there still a purpose?
Can people learn of our absolute conviction,
even if God lets us suffer terribly physically
and then,
let's us die...
with no seeming help coming?
is He ( Jesus still with us?)

So that was a question clearly looked at...
still, I HATE waiting for resolution
( can you tell........ patience is NOT my 'gift)?

I can handle something not getting resolved
for a page,
or
even 2 pages!

But I admit the problem is with me,
I don't fancy when the novel does not quickly resolve the hard things in life

( makes you wonder that I have made it in real life to almost 77 years old)

I am not realistic...I don't like cliff hangers

( Can you imagine my talks/prayers with Jesus:

" Why have you not come back yet Jesus?
Well, Yeah, I get that 'time' is different for you...
in fact, you created time
but still... from MY perspective
I wanted and needed you to come back yesterday!

Right, I know, if that had been the case,
certain folks might not get saved
even my most precious loved one....
but still Lord....
( I am certainly one of His harder children for Him to deal with!)

And this book/novel takes a long long realistic time, getting totally resolved
BUT
It does deal with the godly silver lining,
we can find some 'good' things, because Jesus, God, the silver lining is there
even when evil men,
mean it for evil.

Did I mention I am unhappy the 2nd in the series is not available?
Well, I am....I don't do waiting very well
or not at all!

[H.S. Kylian]

Hmm...I dunno how to rate this. Can't say I loved it, can't say I hated it; maybe I just feel the same about it as I did about Crown? Idk.

Full RTC.

****

*One year later*

Yeah, this is super late. I went and dug up my review that I wrote but never posted, but now it's being posted, albeit with some editing.

****

POSITIVES

The message. The mystery was pretty good, though that was pretty easy to figure out by the time the halfway mark came around.

NEGATIVES

I can’t say I connected with any of the characters. I didn’t really laugh at the supposed wit and banter; maybe I smiled once? Also, the constant injuries just wore on me to the point where I don’t think I was all too concerned with what happened to the characters.

Concerning Red…I’m not trying to be mean here, but I thought she was stupid a few times. She’s supposed to be a detective yet it seemed like she was constantly making stupid decisions. Don’t get me wrong, characters should make stupid decisions every now and then so they can learn from them - but in this case, it just seemed like too much.

The secondary mystery was basically delegated to the backburner, which sucked because I was expecting something to happen with it - I was expecting it to connect to the main mystery, so when it didn’t, cue disappointment. Even if it’s supposed to carry on into the next book, at least hint at it…

The romance. I say that lightly, because as much as I love a good slow-burn romance, this was more like an out-of-the-blue romance where the characters had little to no chemistry with each other. In fact, I was expecting Red to end up with Carter. I think. I can't remember.


MECHANICS

The writing style was a little lifeless and stiff to me.

MINOR THINGS:

There was a line that seemed anti-corset. I know that sounds nitpicky, and I understand that this is a fantasy, but my dumb brain has a hard time turning off the history sometimes... (Tight-lacing. Was. Not. The. Norm)


CONCLUSION

I love Cinderella retellings, but this one missed the mark for me. It's not terrible, but it's also not my favorite, and I really don't see it as a re-read.

[M. Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! Iron has great characters, an interesting plot, is well written, and has a strong faith message. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was in the story, and I enjoyed each of the main characters' point-of-view (Red, Carter, and Chamonix). I really appreciated that as the book went on, the characters had to learn to fully trust God (referred to as the Beginning). This book is full of meaningful quotes, and the language and romance are very clean and appropriate for all ages. Because of the weighty case (child trafficking) that detective Red is trying to solve and a medium-intense battle scene, I recommend Iron for mature readers.

Three cheers for a quality Christian fiction novel for the YA audience! I believe that fans of Melanie Dickerson's books will enjoy Iron. Also, I loved the variety of fun words the author used, such as gormless, fopdoodles, addlebrained, caterwauling, and frippery (to name a few).

[Addison S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot adequately describe how amazing this book was! Madisyn Carlin is an absolutely phenomenal author! I just wish I had found her at a later time so I could binge read all of her books at once instead of waiting for them to be published😅

That said, Iron was an amazing read! I loved each of the main povs (and Denton definitely intrigued me)! Red was so funny and very relatable with her hair problems haha! It was refreshing to have one of the main povs not caught up into a romance with another main character which is not typical for most fairy tales. I hope to read more about her in the next book in the series!
Chamonix (I have no idea how to pronounce her name so I’ll just stick with Char😂) was not your stereotypical princess. Instead of being rebellious, a warrior, and an outspoken leader (like most story princesses), Char was sweet, had a lung disorder, and did her best to listen and obey her parent’s instruction. Because of her character, I would recommend this book to young ladies who need role models like Char❤️❤️❤️
Lastly, Carter!!!! My heart broke for that poor boy! I loved the gender swap in the Cinderella story here. I’ve never read a retelling quite like this one! I loved his sweet romance with Char and how it wasn’t love at first sight. I’m glad he was able to mend his relationship with the Beginning and grow through his trials.
Madisyn Carlin’s books all have a common theme of no matter how terrible the circumstances, God is always in control. We may not understand why He does certain things, but all things are working according to His will❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for another fantastic read, Madisyn Carlin!

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horses named Cinders and Ella point to the fairy tale that inspired this unique retelling, which features an outcast noble who labors as a blacksmith and an orphaned young woman detective who tries to solve the kidnappings plaguing the area, plus a princess who must find a suitable husband. At first, I had trouble getting into the story and didn’t feel a strong connection with the characters. However, the compelling storytelling drew me in even if I sometimes couldn’t keep up mentally with all that was going on in the intriguing medieval tale. As the action mounted and the believable characters faced multiple torments and trials, I couldn’t help but develop an empathy for them. The author has a good command of language, and her writing is clear. The novel explores issues such as a women’s place in society, human trafficking, and hunger for power, along with consequences and justice. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Mildly Mad Hatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! One of my all time favorite retellings! Good faith content and good romance. Great characters! Red was obviously my favorite! There are some more heavy topics, such as human trafficking, in this, but all in all, great book!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you belatedly realize the review you’d prepared never actually got posted -facepalm-

This is such a unique twist of a Cinderella story!
I enjoyed those aspects but also that it wasn’t the main story thread.

In the forefront is kidnappings the MC, Red, is determined to stop and her struggles along the way.
We see a lot of her emotions that she tries to hide. Trying to stay strong even when she didn’t have to, to her detriment and I was glad to see when she realized that. She sometimes seems like a bull in a China cabinet, upsetting things that perhaps should’ve been handled more discreetly, but her drive to set things right stands out.

I admire her more now I think than I did while reading because it’s her best friend, the crown princess Chamonix(Char), that I was drawn and connected to more so. Their friendship is really lovely. They seemed to even each other out. She bears the responsibilities to her kingdom on her shoulders as best she can, though it is so heavy. I liked thinking of the comparison of the two girls, that they both wanted to serve others to the best of their abilities and roles. They did wonder how the other did so so well, wishing they could do that too, not realizing the underlying struggles they each had. They both were brave in different ways that I loved! Their dynamics were written so well!

And then there’s Carter! Gahhh. He frustrated me because I wanted things to be better for him so badly!! Something that frustrated Red too because she couldn’t understand why he didn’t just TAKE those opportunities to do so(a testament to her personality I think too). How things turn for him, though the reader is in for the long haul there, made me cheer for him!

Denton is another character I really kept my eye on, his arc was appreciated.

I do have to say, it took me a bit to get into this and a few situations seemed to loop(the sequence of mishaps) and I wish a few things, like a bit more involvement with the wolfmen, had been developed a tad more.
However, the last 1/2 of this story absolutely caught me. The themes and connection to the characters struggles gave me all the feels! The author also really knows how to write villains! How things progress to the end is amazing.

The real questions and heartening conclusions, the high stakes, the slow and sweet love interest development, the fight scenes… this book is loaded with all the best!
I’ve had the privilege of reading a couple other of this authors works and looking forward to more, especially if it involves a sequel!

Clean yet harrowing mystery and facing very hard topics/situations(trigger warning—non graphic abuse and trafficking)
-I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts here are my own-

[Katherine Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it! Iron is a book you will instantly fall in love with! It had fantastic character development and arcs, and the characters were so easy to fall in love with! I especially loved Carter!! He’s one of those broken boy characters, which are my favorite characters to read about! Because of this, I would have loved for the whole book to be from Carter’s point of view. But I see how Red’s point of view was important to the book; the story really couldn’t have been told without her. Also, Iron is so easy to get invested in it and not want to put it down. It’s one of those books where you want to know what happens but you also get extremely angry when the characters act stupid rather than feeling indifferent. At least, that’s how it was for me. I loved Carter to death, but I was frustrated with how long it took him to recognize that Char was the princess. Red’s explanation of Carter’s ignorance about him being “clueless” felt a bit unrealistic. He should have realized Char was the princess long before he did. And when Lord Riley literally to Carter’s face referred to Char as the “princess” or “her highness,” it was almost as if Carter went deaf! He didn’t acknowledge it, he didn’t even think about it. But it took a smile from Char a couple of pages later for Carter to realize she was the princess. Like, seriously??! I don’t know. I still love Carter, but I found him to be a bit dense. Anyway, I thought that Red and Carter’s friendship was sweet, and I loved how they cared for each other. Iron also had beautiful, impactful themes/messages, and I loved that each of the characters had their own lesson to learn.

Language:
Uses of “curse you/it,” “idiot,” and “blasted.” Mentions of cursing and someone swearing.

Romance:
Clean. There may or may not have been a kiss at the end (I can’t remember XD).

Violence:
Some fighting, someone getting shot, blood, stitching up a wound, mentions of murder, kidnappings, and stabbing someone (or at least a thought of wanting to).

Other:
Mention of a woman being searched.

*I received a free e-copy of this book. This is my honest review.*

[Penny Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading all of Carlin's books, but this one is my favorite (so far). I appreciate that this author is not afraid to put faith in her books. Her writing is strong and her stories are engaging. Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, author, and/or publicist. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful Christian fantasy/fairy tale retelling about different strengths, that of a Princess and that of a Lady Detective. One, gentle and strong in spirit. The other, fierce and strong in body. Both need each other, and their mutual friend, Carter, to help them. The Princess faces the dangerous suitors who want her throne than they want to know her. The Lady Detective wants to discover who is kidnapping children and stop a human trafficking ring. Carter must wrestle with his own cowardice to determine whether he will help either of them. As they grow and mature throughout the novel, they also wrestle with whether the "Beginning" as Madisyn calls her God character, really can be trusted. Does Beginning have their best interests at heart? Is Beginning really in charge? Carlin tackles these tough questions with a light hand, deftly incorporating them into her story at appropriate times and without a preaching tone. Her plot continues to pick up pace until the very end, with a satisfying conclusion that still makes you want more.
I had two minor problems with this story. One, I felt the character's problems were reiterated so much that I was growing irritated with them. Second, the action scenes sometimes were written in a way that it wasn't clear who was attacking whom. But honestly, these were minor complaints that didn't stop me from finishing the book. I absolutely loved it and I honestly went and bought others in the series so I could read them. Highly recommend!

[Rick Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iron, the Redwyn Chronicles by Madisyn Carlin is a joy to read. I can’t think of any novel I have read lately that wholistically incorporates powerful female characters, action and adventure, strong moral (Christian) values, fantasy, social issues, and romance. Effectively incorporating all of that is a pretty tall order; Ms. Carlin tackles it effectively! She is an effective storyteller.

The story takes place in a monarchal, or feudal society, complete with horses, kings and queens, and Lords. Detective Redwyn “Red” Deathan is hired as an adopted member of the royal family and is given the task of solving the kingdom’s most pressing issue: the disappearance of the kidnapped kingdom children. Red does an admirable job of investigating the crimes, but while doing so, she puts herself in mortal danger.

Ms. Carlin weaves all the various aspects of the story while developing characters and romantic relationships. I like her word usage, and at times it is surprising as well as excellent. My favorite is when she refers to a character as “foppish lice.” (I must confess that I had to look up “fop”).

This has the bones of a great book, but it still needs copy editing, line editing, and proofreading. The book begins on “a good foot”; as one on its way to a five-star review. However, the pdf copy I read duplicated chapter 19 in the middle of chapter 18. I was alerted to this error when I read “Chapter 19” in a slightly larger print, but not as a chapter heading, in the middle of page 207. A proofreader should have caught that in addition to other typos and grammatical errors.

In addition, a copy editor should have refined this 478-page document down to about 300 pages. The excessive length is in large part due to over-explaining. For example, the author effectively develops the characteristics of low self-esteem and guilt in some characters. Yet instead of explaining this with two or three examples, the author belabors the point, thereby slowing down the book’s momentum. This is why the book was effective at the beginning because it developed the characters in a good rhythm. But, to continue this pattern for the remainder of the book only served to dampen its energy.

An effective copy editor could have also cut chapters that followed the climax. Books usually wind down after the climax because once the main questions are resolved, the energy dissipates, and the characters’ motivation is lost. Usually, one more brief chapter (or an epilogue) serves to tie things together. A good example of this is in the movie, Star Wars. After Luke blows up the Death Star, there is just one scene where the heroes are honored. Likewise, I think most of the chapters following the climax should be eliminated and incorporated into book 2 of the Chronicles.

I received this book for free, for a balanced and honest review through InterviewsandReviews.com and look forward to seeing more from this great storyteller.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will they find courage when they need it?

I love fairytale retellings. Whether they have magic in them or not. There is something about reading the old familiar tales in totally new settings that captures the imagination and feeds the fiction-loving soul.

I'll admit that it took me a little while to settle into Iron. However, once I figured out just who Cinderella was, well, I got into the story a lot more. Of the three main characters Red, as the lead, was my favorite of them all. Her sarcasm was funny and something that my own snarky personality could appreciate. She, along with the others, are flawed and they each have valuable life lessons to learn even as they face an evil that has invaded their kingdom.

One of the things that I found most interesting about Iron was the way author Madisyn Carlin so honestly and accurately handled the doubts and fears of her characters when they come face to face with the unimaginable horror of human trafficking. Abuse and loss can take their toll on a person's faith but God is still there and can handle those questions.

One thing I would like to note is that due to the darker threads of this first book in The Redwyn Chronicles this book is listed as New Adult so it would be better for a little bit older teens.

Madisyn Carlin is a new author for me but as this is only the first of The Redwyn Chronicles I hope that I will get the chance to see where she takes Red in the next book...

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)